Murder and Drugs in Arkansas

by J. Orlin Grabbe

It appears to be one more case where the FBI has
concealed evidence to protect prominent individuals
involved in drug-dealing.

On Aug. 23, 1987, the bodies of two teenagers--
Don Henry, 16, and Kevin Ives, 17--were found close to
Shobe Road near Alexander, Arkansas. They had been
run over by a Union Pacific train. The state medical
examiner, Fahmy Malak, ruled that the deaths were
accidental--saying the two boys had smoked too much
marijuana, and then had fallen asleep on the railroad
tracks.

But an Atlanta, Ga., forensic pathologist named
Joe Burton said that prior to being run over by the train,
Don Henry had been stabbed in the back, while Kevin
Ives had been beaten in the face. A grand jury ruled the
deaths a double homicide. Deputy prosecutor Richard
Garrett and special deputy prosecutor Dan Harmon said
the two death were related to Saline County drug
trafficking.

Now the police chief of Alexander, John Brown,
acknowledges he obtained a taped confession from one of
the murderers of the two boys. This admission was
prompted by critcisms of Brown that came from Don
Henry's father, Curtis Henry. According to The Benton
Courier, Brown acknowledged during his recent bid for
sheriff of Saline County:

"Mr. Henry is accurate
about losing contact with
me in late 1993. During our
last meeting, Mr. Henry
heard part of a taped
confession by one of the
persons involved in the
murders" (Jerry Breeden,
"Brown says taped
confession awaiting action,"
November 4, 1996).

The Benton Courier goes on to say:

"U.S. Attorney Paula Casey,
contacted at her Little Rock
office today, was asked if
she was aware of the
confession to which Brown
refers.

" 'I think that, under the
circumstances, the best
thing for me to say for now
is "no comment," ' Casey
said.

"Brown's response
continues:

" 'Until now I have avoided
talking about this
confession at the request of
federal investigators.

" ' Because of the
magnitude and suspects
named in this confession, it
was impossible to pursue
this case at the state level.

" 'Unfortunately, Mr.
[Curtis] Henry contacted
another suspect (who was a
prominent Saline County
resident) and informed him
of being named in this
confession. Ms. [Judy]
Pridgen [Saline County
sheriff] and I discussed the
matter, and it was decided
to immediately cease
contact with Mr. Henry.
That decision was
reinforced by FBI agent
Phyllis Cournan, who was
assigned to the case. These
allegations made me realize
that no one has informed
Mr. Henry that this
confession and the evidence
I gathered while working on
this case for 18 months
corroborated FBI
intelligence files. This
evidence is what initiated
the FBI investigation.' "

So there you have it. The FBI has been sitting on
evidence related to murder without even notifying the
father of one of the murder victims. But concealing
evidence, or else (if need be) manufacturing it, has
become par for the course at the FBI, especially where
drug-dealers and high-level politicians are involved.
After all, they all work for the same masters.